walsh



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'. J. E. WALSH.

SUBMARINE EXGAVATOR.

. No. 328,095. Patented Oct, 13, 1885'.

' Invenl'or':

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'JOHN E. WALSH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUBMARINE EXCAVATOR.

llPEClFJICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,095, dated October 13, 1885.

Application filed August 11, 1885. Serial No. 174,122. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. WALsH, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Excavators, of which the following is'a specification.

The object of myinvention is to produce an excavator that shall be capable of removing rapidly and economically the material-such as sand or n1ud-at the bottom of rivers or harbors, as in removing bars or laying foundations.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same.

The same letters refer to the same parts throughout.

I employ for the above purpose a vessel, A, having a well or opening, a, in the center extending nearly its whole length, and of width sufficient to accommodate the excavating apparatus. Upon each side of this well a are placed rails or guides a, on which one or more carriageframes, B, are fitted to traverse as required.

Upon the carriage B are mounted, in suitable journals and supports, two shafts, b, and a connecting-shaft, b, all connected by conical or bevel gear-wheels 12 so that they may be revolved simultaneously.

Upon the shafts b are secured pinions or spurgear biwhich engage with racks (Z of the elevating-carriage D, and by means of which the carriage D may be raised or lowered at will. There is alsoaratehet-wheel, b, upon the shaft b, and pawl secured to the carriage B,which locks the shafts b and retains the elevatingcarriage D at any desired level.

The elevating-carriage D is arranged so that it may slide up and down through the frame of the carriage B, and has secured to its sides the rack d.

\Vithin the elevating-carriage D is placeda water-tight box or carriage, E, which is free to be slid up and down in the carriage D, and is operated and held in position by means of the hydraulic cylinder d and piston d actuated by the force-pump (1 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the lower part of the carriage E is fixed a rotary pump, F, of such capacity as shall be found necessary to remove the material to be excavated. The suction-pipe f of this pump F extends below the carriage E, and by lowering the carriages D and E may be brought in contact with the bottom at any required depth. The pump F is driven,by suitable belt or gearing,by means of ashaft, (1*, runningin journals upon the frame of the carriage D. This shaft (1* may be driven by steam or other power in the usual manner.

The mouth of the suctionpipe f is supplied with a stirrer or digger, f, driven by means of the shaft f and gear f, the shaft f deriving its motion by means of suitable belt or gearing from the shaft (1, as shown at f.

The discharge-pipe f of the pump ll is brought up and bent over, being made with a joint, so that it can be revolved about a vertical axis, and discharge the fmaterial raised into either side of the vessel A, orinto other vessels lying alongside thereof.

The shafts b b may be rotated by steam or hand power, and the: whole arrangement permits the excavator to be located and worked with great precision as to location and depth without being disturbed by currents or tides;

- while by elevating the carriages D and E the whole apparatus can be at once raised into a safe position above the bottom level of the vessel A, so that it can be easily transported from place to place, yet be ready to be lowered and set at work without loss of time when the proper place is found.

It is obvious that several carriage-framesB having elevating-carriages and pumps, as described, niay be carried by one vessel A, and also the vessel A may be divided by one or more bulk-heads or partitions into various compartments for the reception of the mate rial excavated, if desired.

In steam-excavators as heretofore used the truck carrying the excavating machinery runs upon rails that are laid upon beams 011 a framework which is built over theplace itis desired to excavate, and the horizontal movement is limited to one line of direction; but with my arrangement of afloat or vessel, A, I can easily move it in any direction or to any distance desirable; also, in the excavators now used the steam-pipes and machinery are more or less immersed in the water, with no protection whatever. This causes great loss of steam or power by condensation and friction, which I obviate by inclosing my pump and motive connections in a boX or chamber, E,which is made watertight,keepin g the pumping machinery, at Whatever level it may be working, protected from water, and the loss of power and wear incidentto the running of machinery in water necessarily made muddy by the action of the excavator itself. It is also an objection to the excavators that work in the open water that a diver must be employed or the work stopped and the machinery lifted for every little matter, while in my arrangement the pump F and its connections are accessible for oiling or attention at all times, whether working or standing still, and without regard to the depth or level they may be located at.

Having thus described the nature and uses of my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described excavator, consisting of the vessel A, having awell, a, and guide rails a, the excavating apparatus comprising the carriages B and D and box E, the pump F, suction-pipef, and discharge-pipef constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and set forth.

2. The chamber E, having an excavatingpump, and the elevating-carriage D, having the driving-shaft a, in combination with the hydraulic lifting-cylinder d, and force-pump d, constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 10th day of August, A. D. 1885.

JOHN E. WVALSH.

\Vitnesses:

H. F. BURKE, H. E. PERRINE, 

